Severe Storm Outlook Narrative (AC)
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Issued by NWS
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557 ACUS01 KWNS 051251 SWODY1 SPC AC 051250 Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0750 AM CDT Sun May 05 2024 Valid 051300Z - 061200Z ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTH TEXAS... ...SUMMARY... Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across parts of South Texas today. Isolated locally severe thunderstorms are also possible across the Mid-South and upper Ohio Valley. ...Synopsis... A substantial synoptic-scale trough has moved inland over the Pacific Coast States and NV, anchored by a cyclone now centered near the NV/OR border. The 500-mb low should move erratically eastward through the period, reaching southern WY by 12Z tomorrow, with a strong shortwave trough southward over western CO and NM. Associated height falls will shift eastward through the Intermountain West, Rockies, and eventually High Plains. As that occurs, a convectively reinforced, southern-stream perturbation -- apparent in moisture-channel imagery from western OK to central/ southeast TX -- will move eastward to the lower Mississippi Valley. An embedded MCV, initially evident over southern OK, should move northeastward toward the Ozarks through 00Z. Another MCV may be located over northeast TX, and should move over AR today. At the surface, 11Z analysis showed a weak low over northwestern OH, near a frontal triple point, with warm front arching across eastern OH, western WV and eastern KY. This front represents the western rim of a cold-damming airmass over the central Appalachians, and will be slow to erode from the west as the cold front catches up today. The cold front extended from the low across portions of northern/western KY to northern AR, to a frontal-wave low over northeastern OK, related to the northern MCV. The front then extended across eastern OK, and north-central/southwest TX. The trailing part of the cold front is expected to lose definition amidst: 1. A vast field of convective outflow air already in place across much of central/north/east TX, OK and AR, as well as 2. Intensifying low-level warm advection on both sides late in the period, contributing to frontolysis. ...South TX to Mid-South/lower Mississippi Valley... A dissipating convective complex is moving eastward across portions of LA, followed by a still-robust but mostly non-severe line of thunderstorms over southeast TX. The trailing line may produce isolated gusts near severe limits for a few more hours, but should move into an airmass modified by the leading activity. Meanwhile, the boundary layer farther north -- ahead of a belt of precip and embedded thunderstorms now over eastern OK and the Arklatex -- should destabilize diabatically through the afternoon. That, along with favorable low-level moisture (surface dewpoints generally in the mid/upper 60s F), should offset modest mid/upper-level lapse rates enough to support peak MLCAPE in the 1000-1500 J/kg range over much of the outlook area. Scattered thunderstorms are expected -- perhaps in the form of intensification along the northeastward- shifted leading edge of the current convection. With modest low-level and deep shear, severe potential should remain marginal and isolated, in the form of gusts and hail. Mesobeta-scale mass-response effects ahead of the MCVs might help organization over parts of the Mid-South region later today. Farther southwest, the aggregate outflow boundary from the morning complexes as analyzed from near HOU-COT and into northern Coahuila. This boundary should stall, then drift northward over south-central TX and the adjoining Rio Grande Valley today. The boundary should focus additional thunderstorm development from midday through the afternoon, some of which may become severe multicells or supercells with large hail, damaging gusts and at least marginal tornado potential. Though flow beneath the 700-mb level should be modest (generally 5-10 kt), two factors will favor severe potential: 1. Backed flow near the boundary, with maximized low-level vorticity, augmentation of weak ambient shear, and favorable storm-relative low-level winds on the mesoscale. 2. Favorable buoyancy, with MLCAPE commonly 2000-3000 J/kg along and south of the boundary, will be fostered by strong diurnal heating, rich low-level moisture (70s F surface dewpoints) and weak CINH. In the absence of notable mid/upper support behind the shortwave trough, convection may diminish rapidly through the evening, as the boundary layer stabilizes from both nocturnal cooling and spreading outflow air. ...Upper Ohio Valley vicinity... Episodes of widely scattered to scattered thunderstorms are expected to move roughly eastward across this outlook area today, with isolated damaging (but mainly subsevere) gusts possible. Activity will occur as weak MLCINH is breached by diabatic heating and frontal lift. In the pocket of favorable boundary-layer air between the warm and cold fronts, 60s F surface dewpoints should contribute to MLCAPE in the 1000-1500 J/kg range. Glancing influences of a northern-stream trough -- passing north of the area from the Upper Great Lakes across northeastern ON and adjoining QC -- will include somewhat tightened height gradients and enhanced mid/upper winds. However, low-level flow will remain weak and veered to southwesterly, with weak vertical shear in the lowest 500 mb. Mode therefore should be multicellular, with convection weakening considerably as low-level instability decreases near and after sunset. ..Edwards/Broyles.. 05/05/2024 $$